Advent is here!

A time of preparation, anticipation, reflection and hope... Hope stemming from humble beginnings... Looking back at the promise made through the birth of Jesus, our baby in a manger... and looking forward in hope to his second coming in glory and majesty and the promise of eternal life.

The first candle of our Advent wreath was lit, one of four red ones (one for each Sunday in Advent)the central white one reserved for Christmas and celebrating the arrival of the Christ light.
As is traditional in St Michael's and All Angels (or has been since we have been here!) We sing an Advent song adding a new verse each week a new candle is lit.

The words are as follows and are sung to the tune of "One more step along the world I go" (clapping to the rythm on the last line of each verse):

Winter's here, we hardly see the sun,
Cold damp days can make your spirits glum,
Though it's dark when school is done,
Advent tells us that the Lord will come.
So through all Decemder's dark and dreary days
Clap your hands and sing your Advent praise!

Hope is given us by candle "one".
Though God judges each and everyone,
Those who trust Him need not fear,
Advent tells us that the Lord is near.
So through all December's dark and dreary days
Clap your hands and sing your Advent praise!

Next we'll light a candle for the Word
Teaching us about the living Lord;
Telling how God's will is done,
Through the advent of His Holy Son.
So through all December's dark and dreary days
Clap your hands and sing your Advent praise!

Candle "three" will speak to us of John
Who prepared the way for God's own Son;
Preaching from his desert home
That the Saviour of the world will come.
So through all December's dark and dreary days
Clap your hands and sing your Advent praise!

Then we'll symbolise, with candle "four"
Mary, holy mother of the Lord;
Soon we'll shout with joy and say:
Advent's over and it's Christmas Day!
So through all December's dark and dreary days
Clap your hands and sing your Advent praise!


Although a little over exposed, you can see Walcott Church's Advent wreath with it's first candle lit and our little Benjamin holding the lit Christingle as made up during the play below...

At 3pm we took part in a Christingle sevice and as dramatised by our young group of budding actors, our Christingle play offered an explanation of what a Christingle is, to the un-initiated.

and just in case you didn't quite get all that was said! here's the transcript!! ;)

Christingle play

Joseph(8) So we’re going to make a Christingle.
I wonder what it is?
Matthew (9) I’ll tell you. The word CHRISTINGLE means CHRIST LIGHT.
(Benjamin(3) picks up an orange)
Isaac(5) Why an orange?
Matthew Well the orange is round just like the earth,
so we think of the orange as a little planet earth.
(Benjamin puts in the candle)
Isaac But what about the candle?
Matthew The candle is Jesus . THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
(As Matthew puts in the cocktail sticks with goodies into the orange Benjamin is holding, Joseph says)
Joseph Right. The orange is the world and the candle is Jesus, so what about the the four sticks with fruit and sweets?
Asha(10) That’s easy. The four sticks are the four seasons and the fruit and sweets represent the fruits of the earth.
Charles(8) And what about the red ribbon? I bet you don’t know what . that means? (Holds up a piece of red tape)
Matthew OH YES I DO.
(Congregation – OH NO YOU DON’T)
Matthew OH YES I DO.
The red ribbon is used to represent Jesus’ blood. (As he places it around the girth of the orange B is still holding then lights it from the main candle and carefully gives it back to Benjamin to hold up high))
Asha OK. It looks as though we ‘ve made it. Our Christingle.
Shall we show everyone?
Charles Yes, lift it up. (each child picks up a pre prepared Christingle and joins Benjamin in lifting it up high)
Asha Now we can hand one out to all the children and then light them…
(helpers, Brenda, Audrey, Beth hand out Christingles into the congregation)
Charles Be careful it’s hot!
(The sketch children light their candles from Benjamin’s and then light the Christingles in the first pew telling the recipients to light those of the people behind them and so on until all the candles are lit and the church lights are switched off)
In the candle lit darkness the "actors" sang Graham Kendrick's "Like a candle flame" (you can listen to it on this link) more subdued and reflective than the traditional "Shine Jesus Shine" which we kept for the last sending out hymn!

The service had a contemporary feel, with many newer, faster paced songs. We wanted it to be a new service, attracting new people interested in learning something new and hopefully learning and reflecting more on the real reason for the season.

Seperately, David and Penny have recorded parts of the service and as soon as I receive them I will share them with you!
Come back soon to check!

Interested in the various traditions of Advent celebrations? Firstly, visit At a hen's pace where a Carnival of Anglican Advent Traditions is taking place, then have fun and click on these ( will not take any responsability for you losing yourself in other people's blog and links from links... I do it regularly and end up travelling the world!!:) )
lovebloomsbright
christmas-eve-will-find-me
myquotidianmysteries
contrary-expectation-celebration-of
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Advent resources